Why potatoes need to be boiled in order to make alcol?

I read a couple of recipes and descriptions of what it needs to be done in order to produce alcoholic beverages such as vodka and rum, I was surprised to know that basically all the sources are using boiled potatoes and not just raw peeled potatoes meshed by a blender .

I think that the act of boiling is ruining the organoleptic properties of the potato and lowering the quality of the finished product, I don't understand why you are suppose to boil the potatoes .